Bess T Shepherd Elementary School

📚🎨🥳Retirement Celebration 🥳🍎💻📝

We had the honor of celebrating two incredible women who have poured their hearts into Bess T. Shepherd Elementary for so many years. 💐

Ms. Yolanda Smith, our dedicated secretary, is retiring after an incredible 30 years of service. A strong and steady presence in our front office, she has supported generations of families and staff. Though she was known for her firm approach, those who knew her best experienced her kindness, dedication, and willingness to help whenever it was needed.

Ms. Sandra Lehn, our beloved art teacher, is retiring after 15 years of inspiring creativity, imagination, and confidence in our students. Her impact will live on in every child she encouraged to express themselves through art.

We are so grateful for the love, commitment, and legacy both of these women leave behind. Bess T Shepherd is better because of them, and they will always be a part of our family. 🤎💛

Join us in wishing Ms. Lehn and Ms. Smith a happy, well-deserved retirement! 🎉 you will be missed 🐏

A huge thank you to our amazing art teacher, Ms. Lehn! 🎨💛 She has truly brought out the creativity in our students and filled our school with beautiful artwork.

As she steps into retirement, we will miss her dearly and are so grateful for the impact she’s made at Bess T. Shepherd. Wishing her all the best! 💐✨

We are so proud of our talented Bess T. Shepherd students who showcased their artwork at the 2026 We Make Festival, hosted by Art 120 at the Sculpture Fields! 🎨✨

Aurora (5th grade) displayed her beautiful piece inspired by artist Hundertwasser. Julianna and her sister Genesis also shared their creative works, inspired by The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush and a worm’s-eye view of a tree influenced by artist Georgia O’Keeffe.

A special congratulations to our award winners:
🥇 Solange – 1st Place (Elementary Division)
🥈 Chloe – 2nd Place (Elementary Division)

We are incredibly proud of all of our young artists for representing Bess T. Shepherd so well! 💙👏

What a beautiful and memorable day celebrating our 5th graders at the Bess T Shepherd’s Promotion Ceremony! 🎓✨

This day marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another as our students walked across the stage, full of pride, confidence, and excitement for what’s ahead. From awards to heartfelt speeches and proud smiles with cheering families, every moment reminded us just how special this class truly is.

We are so proud of each and every one of our students for their hard work, growth, and perseverance. You have left your mark on Bess T Shepherd, and we know you will continue to shine bright in middle school and beyond. Best wishes 🥰

Special thanks to our guest speaker Pastor Wilson. Your words were powerful, inspiring, and right on time for our students as they take this next step in their journey. We truly appreciate you always pouring into our scholars and helping make this day even more special!

Peace out ✌️ 5th grade! We will miss you guys 🤎💛🐏✨